MIDWEEK COLUMN WEDNESDAY 23 JULY 2025
- STEVE COOKE AATA
- Jul 23
- 8 min read
previews, reviews, interviews, and recommendations with Steve Cooke
MIDWEEK COLUMN WEDNESDAY 23 JULY 2025
Summer Reading Challenge from our Library Service
Preview by Steve Cooke
Our wonderful local library service bucks the national trend and rather than diminishing or even disappearing is offering more and more!
For example, the Summer Reading Challenge.
The 2025 Summer Reading Challenge theme is Story Garden and aims to inspire children to tap into a world of imagination through reading.
Story Garden will celebrate nature and the great outdoors, exploring adventures, fantasy and the magical world of storytelling.
This year's challenge features artwork from award-winning illustrator Dapo Adeola, whose illustrations will bring the Story Garden theme to life; creating an enchanting world where children can find magical creatures, plants and flowers to inspire their next reading adventure.
The Summer Reading Challenge is presented by The Reading Agency and delivered by libraries across the country including our own here in Rochdale, Heywood and Middleton.
To take part in the Summer Reading Challenge:
Your child can sign up for the challenge at any library in the borough.
You'll get a collector's folder to keep track of their reading. Add the books your child reads over the summer to the collector's folder. They need to read at least 6 books to complete the challenge.
When they complete the challenge, come back to the library with the collector's folder. Your child will earn a certificate, and they will be entered into a prize draw.
Your child can also take part in the challenge online, where they can track their progress and earn rewards over several challenges.
Join the Summer Reading Challenge online https://summerreadingchallenge.org.uk/
Your child can read anything they'd like – all books count towards the goal. This includes comics, poems, audiobooks and picture books. You don't need to buy new books for the challenge either. You can borrow from the library or even re-read a book.
You may like to:
Borrow eBooks and eAudiobooks for free.
Use the book sorter to get recommendations on what to read - all of the books in the Book Sorter have been added by children just like you.
Re-read a book - your child can re-read books they already have at home. The most important thing is that they're reading and having fun.
For Children between the ages of 3–11 years old and their families.
You can just drop in. Activities are free and offered on a first come, first served basis.
Drop in at your local library to take part in:
Secret vegetable garden – decorate your own plant pot and get a green thumb planting a vegetable to take home and grow.
Secret mini garden – design and create a miniature 3D book nook style garden or a 2D garden collage.
Secret sensory garden – make a nature inspired mobile or windchime using pieces of fallen nature and other sensory materials.
Event dates, times and locations across our borough.
Wednesday, 23 July 2025
9.30am–11.30am – Alkrington Library, Middleton
1pm–3pm – Heywood Library and Customer Service Centre, Heywood
Thursday, 24 July 2025
9.30am–11.30am – Smallbridge Library, Smallbridge
1pm–3pm – Norden Library, Rochdale
Friday. 25 July 2025
1pm–3pm – Littleborough Library, Littleborough
Monday, 28 July 2025
9.30am–11.30am – Castleton Library, Rochdale
1pm–3pm – Junction Library, Middleton
Tuesday, 29 July 2025
9.30am–11.30am – Spotland Library, Rochdale
1pm–3pm – Milnrow Library, Milnrow
Wednesday, 30 July 2025
9.30am–11.30am – Middleton Library and Customer Service Centre, Middleton
1pm–3pm – Rochdale Central Library and Customer Service Centre, Rochdale
Thursday, 31 July 2025
9.30am–11.30am – Balderstone Library, Rochdale
1pm–3pm – Smithy Bridge Library, Littleborough
Friday, 1 August 2025
9.30am–11.30am – Darnhill Library
1pm–3pm – Langley Library
Two expert performers in an exemplary recital at TLC
Review by Dr Joe Dawson
Tim Kennedy studied music at Cambridge and is now a freelance musician based in Manchester. As well as a piano accompanist, he is a professional singer, vocal coach and organist. He has worked at the RNCM for over ten years and is also an official accompanist for the British and International Federation of Festivals and the Tatton Singers Knutsford, etc.
Joanna Garcia gained a First from Manchester University, winning three Hargreaves Prizes and the Sir Thomas Beecham Medal. She continued at the RNCM, gaining advanced diplomas and several awards, a Junior Fellowship and subsequently Staff Tutor in Accompaniment. She was Staff Accompanist at Chetham’s School of Music, and taught piano at Manchester University. Joanna also helps advanced pianists on overcoming performance anxieties.
So, with two such highly qualified musicians we knew the time with them would be time well spent.
Firstly, we had four songs from the Bard’s plays set by Roger Quilter, including Blow, blow, thou winter wind (from As you like it). Then from the film version of Romeo and Juliet, Nino Rota’s A time for us, and the haunting Somewhere from Bernstein’s modern adaptation, West Side Story. Tim’s diction and enunciation were impeccable throughout, making the texts clear and meaningful; all delivered in Tim’s pure English tenor tones, expertly accompanied by Joanna.
To conclude this section, we had a World Premiere, a setting (by yours truly) of Shall I compare thee to a summer's day (Sonnet 18). It was rather humbling to be sandwiched between Bernstein and Ravel! But gratefully this was a definitive performance and seemed to be well received.
Joanna then turned soloist with Une barque sur l’ocean (from Miroirs) by Ravel; a remarkable performance filling the space with colour and atmosphere, making the most of TLC’s 1935 heritage Challen Grand.
Finally, Tim explored his themes with Try to remember, September Song, Time Long ago, and If I loved you from Carousel. This exemplary recital closed with another new song, an optimistic and joyful wedding present, ‘Til the end of time’, by Patrick Larley.
The Queen’s Award-winning Toad Lane Concerts - every Wednesday at 12.30pm at the Grade 1 listed church of St Mary in the Baum, Toad Lane, Rochdale, OL16 1DZ. Entrance fee is £6. Contact 01706 648872 for further information.
Still Time to catch HOME’s MIF25 summer exhibition, FALA SĀ/SACRED HOUSE
Preview by Steve Cooke
You still have time to catch FALA SĀ/SACRED HOUSE, part of FAFSWAG's takeover for Manchester International Festival that welcomes audiences into the realm of Pacific storytelling.
Critically acclaimed Queer Indigenous collective FAFSWAG are taking over HOME for MIF25 - with stunning exhibition combining digital art, live cultural ceremony and a programme of films and talks grounded in Pacific Identity.
FAFSWAG is an arts collective of Māori and Pacific LGBTQI+ artists and activists founded in Auckland, New Zealand in 2013. They explore and celebrate the unique identity of gender fluid Pacific people and LGBTQI+ communities in multi-disciplinary art forms. In 2020 FAFSWAG was awarded an Arts Laureate from the New Zealand Arts Foundation, and they also represented New Zealand at the Biennale of Sydney.
FALA SĀ/SACRED HOUSE sees contemporary FAFSWAG artists create a site for ceremonial transformation, imagining a future HOME for our celestial bodies, sacred objects, ancestral stories and collective gatherings. The exhibition brings into question the nature of our relationships to our communities, our environment, and the constantly expanding cosmos, with artists directly accessing ancestral memories to craft collective stories and imagine Indigenous futures.
Curated by FAFSWAG artists and co-commissioned by Factory International and HOME, this striking and compelling exhibition is a must see.
Exhibition ends Sun 10 Aug.
Duration: 2 hours
Free, booking recommended
Limited walk-ups available daily
Opening times
Mon: Closed
Tue-Sat: 12.00-20.00
Sun: 12.00-18.00
HOME 2 Tony Wilson Place Manchester M15 4FN.
RECOMMENDED
Wednesday 23 July 2025
A summer organ spectacular at Rochdale Town Hall
Jonathan Scott presents a special summer organ concert in the Victorian splendour of Rochdale Town Hall, showcasing the 'King of Instruments' in a scintillating programme of spectacular summer music.
Described as "The leading British Organist", Jonathan Scott is Organist at Manchester's Bridgewater Hall where he regularly performs to audiences of thousands. He is in demand as a concert soloist all over the world and is the only organist to have performed a solo organ concert at The Royal Albert Hall in London for the 2024 BBC Proms. The organ of Rochdale Town Hall is one of Jonathan's favourite organs, and he is excited to be returning to give a special summer concert on this amazing instrument.
From £12
Book tickets online through Your Trust: https://www.yourtrustrochdale.co.uk/
Phone 01706 924797 between 10am–4pm
2pm - 3pm
Rochdale Town Hall, The Esplanade, Rochdale OL16 1AZ
Wednesday, 23 July 2025
Toad Lane Concerts - Rochdale's Weekly Music at Lunchtime
This week we have - William Poon piano (Hong Kong Academy & RNCM)
The concert series has been held at St Mary’s since 2001 and was granted the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2020.
Running every Wednesday, Music at Lunchtime is a weekly live classical music concert series that has been going since the 1960s. The sessions were initially run at the old Rochdale Art Gallery by the local authority, but since May 2001 have been run by volunteer-enthusiasts and artistic director, Dr Joe Dawson.
£6
Phone: Dr Joe Dawson 01706 648872
Doors open 12noon, concert starts 12.30pm - 1.30pm
St Mary in the Baum, Toad Lane/St Mary's Gate, Rochdale OL16 1DZ
Thursday, 24 July 2025
Every other Thursday during term time. Join Amy and Bookstart Bear for a fun session.
When you and your child come along to their first session of Bookstart Baby and Bear Club, they will receive their very own Bookstart passport for you to get stamped each time they come along to a session or visit the library. For every 6 stamps they get in their passport, they'll receive a certificate. Don't worry, if you or your child are not library members already, you can join when you come along to Bookstart Bear Club.
Free
1.30pm - 2.15pm
Balderstone Library, Balderstone Park, Platting Lane, Rochdale OL11 2HD
Thursday, 24 July 2025
Visit Fireground Museum
Join us at Fireground this week to discover Greater Manchester's firefighting story.
Fire museum attractions are on show inside the museum including our collection of historic firefighting artefacts from the 18th century to present day, plus home-made refreshments in the new Fireground Café, and souvenirs from our fantastic new gift shop! We have a wide choice ranging from toddler to collector.
Under 4s Free, Children (aged 4-15) £6, Seniors £6, Students £6, Adults £8, Family (4 people) £24.
Phone: Fireground 01706 341219
Open Thursday, Friday & Saturday from 10am - 4pm
Fireground, Maclure Road, Rochdale OL11 1DN
Friday, 25 July 2025
The American Four Tops
Direct from the USA, and back by popular demand, Soul Satisfaction appear live in concert performing The American Four Tops Motown show, bringing you all the sweet soul music and Motown magic.
With powerful vocals, splendid harmonies and high stepping dance routines, you will be taken on a journey celebrating the legendary Four Tops, with hits such as Reach Out, Baby I Need Your Loving, Walk Away Renee, Same Old Song, Loco in Acapulco, Standing In the Shadow, Bernadette and other classics including songs from the Temptations, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, Marvin Gaye, Ben E King and other icons from Motown’s golden era. Supported by their incredible band Motown Express, this is an exciting and authentic American experience!
Watch trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xpuxLSOu_Q
Tickets from £28.00
Middleton Arena, LCpl Joel Halliwell VC Way, Middleton, Greater Manchester M24 1AG
Saturday, 26 July 2025
Reading Group - Middleton Library
Last Saturday of every month. Discover new authors and discuss books with other readers in this friendly and relaxed reading group.
For Adults no booking required – you can just turn up.
Books are provided and loaned through the library. Refreshments will be provided
Free
1.30pm - 2.30pm
Middleton Library, Long Street, Middleton M24 6DU
celebrating creative arts and artists - an oasis of positivity supporting individual and community wellbeing.
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